Carlsbad welcome's home its Vietnam Veterans

CARLSBAD >> Vietnam War veterans remember returning to an America that would hardly look them in the eye.

"We weren't expecting parades when we got home. It was a different time," said Hugh McIlwee, 70, a Vietnam veteran and Carlsbad native.

There were no welcome home parades or ceremonies and many veterans were treated with little to no respect, McIlwee said.

"The horrible treatment that many of our nation's Vietnam veterans received after they returned home from that war is unforgivable," Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway said.

The official 50th anniversary of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, as proclaimed by the U.S. Department of Defense, is being honored across the nation with ceremonies as Memorial Day approaches.

Local Vietnam veterans are being honored today with the Carlsbad Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Parade.

"The Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day represents an effort to make sure that our veterans are honored and respected for their courage and service to this country," Janway said.

The U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War began in 1965, according to the U.S. Department of Defense website, and officially ended April 30, 1975.

The Vietnam War cost more than 58,000 American lives and was not wholeheartedly supported by the nation

McIlwee, a member of the Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard, said he is happy that he and other Vietnam veterans are being recognized.

"There's nothing nice and pretty about war, but we (Vietnam veterans) were not treated very nice when we came home," McIlwee said. "One time someone saw my ribbons and asked me how many babies I had killed."

Debby Perkins, the parade organizer, said that community response to the parade has been phenomenal.

"Something should have been done years ago for these veterans," Perkins said.

The lack of support from many in the nation was due to several reasons, including that the Vietnam War was costly and it was the first war America lost.

McIlwee said that unlike the welcoming home veterans from World War II received, Vietnam War veterans did not get that distinction.

"At the time we didn't know what we were fighting for, but we didn't win," McIlwee said.

The Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard has 12 members, all of who have served in various branches of the military.

Two honor guard members, including McIlwee, served in the Vietnam War.

In addition to the parade, a special Vietnam service will be held today at the Eddy County Courthouse.

The Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard will present the flag at the service, conduct a three-volley salute and play taps to honor all fallen veterans.

"All veterans have served the country in one way or another," McIlwee said. "It's our honor to give fallen military a final closing."

More than 40 Vietnam veterans are expected to march with the parade and be a part of the later ceremony.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. at St. Edwards School and will end at the Eddy County Courthouse.